Emily Blaney
I chose to study Vis Comm at IADT because after lots of research, I found the course at IADT definitely had the best reputation. The college has a huge range of creative courses meaning you’re on campus with lots of like minded people. Another factor in choosing IADT was the small class size which allows more one-on-one mentoring. In addition, the college has a very friendly atmosphere and really good student facilities.
I found the course quite challenging at times. It pushes students to be critical about their work and strive to be better designers, problem solvers and visual thinkers. The lecturers are extremely committed and experienced, having worked in the industry themselves, they know how to prepare students for the real world.
The course teaches you to dissect and understand briefs and work to tight deadlines, all of which have being extremely beneficial working in the industry. The Vis Comm course is very comprehensive and you get to work across multiple disciplines within design. Being multidisciplinary is critical these days and IADT takes care in producing graduates who are not only versatile but forward-thinking.
After graduating in 2016, I now work as a graphic designer for the creative agency In the Company of Huskies. I get to work alongside some very talented and inspiring people. IADT taught me the fundamentals of design and these are skills I’m able to put to use everyday. The great thing about Huskies is that it’s a very collaborative place to work and we work across a wide variety of projects.
During my four years in IADT we worked on various group projects so working collaboratively is something that came easily to me and I really enjoy it.
I have a keen interest in art direction, which I feel stems from the emphasis on experimentation and ideation throughout the Vis Comm course. I learned the importance of typography and print during the course which has hugely benefited my current work. I represented Ireland in the print category of the Cannes Young Lions in June and I feel IADT gave me a great foundation to compete in such a prestigious competition.